In this powerful episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with retired former Orlando Police Department officer Todd Herb to discuss a game-changing concept: providing first responders with elite-level sports medicine care to dramatically reduce recovery time, cut taxpayer costs, and protect morale.

Todd shares how his post-law-enforcement journey led him to Ready Rebound, a company founded on one simple idea:

If professional athletes get immediate, specialized treatment to return to peak performance, why shouldn’t first responders?

When the public thinks about first responder injuries, they imagine:

Officer-involved shootings

Structure fires

Major catastrophic incidents

But the reality is very different.

Most injuries are:

Torn shoulders

Blown knees

Back injuries

Rolled ankles

Training accidents

These orthopedic injuries often lead to:

Months of light duty

Costly overtime backfill

Frustration and morale decline

Litigation

Early medical retirement

Loss of trained talent

In small departments (often fewer than 20 officers nationwide), one injured officer can devastate staffing and budgets.

Todd explains that even a single prolonged injury can cost a small city $50,000–$100,000 in overtime alone.

Key Takeaways

First responders face athletic-level physical demands.

Traditional workers’ comp systems are not designed for mission-critical responders.

Faster, specialized treatment protects both public safety and taxpayer dollars.

Treating officers like elite athletes improves morale, readiness, and retention.